Longmont Youth Symphony plans to extend scholarship program

Kenny Jarnagin waits between songs during the Longmont Youth Symphony Orchestra's performance at the annual Fourth of July celebration in Thompson Park on Friday, July 4. (Lewis Geyer / Longmont Times-Call)

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Longmont twins Kenny and Kile Jarnagin progressed quickly after joining the Sunset Middle School music program in sixth grade — a little too quickly for their parents to keep up.

The boys' mom, Lisa Jarnagin, said that the school has a great program, with phenomenal teachers, but that her sons needed to advance beyond what they were getting in a school music program.

She began looking at private lessons for Kile, who plays the violin, and Kenny, who plays the alto saxophone, but the cost was too much.

"We want them to have all the benefits available to help them succeed, but when you're already working hard just to pay regular bills, it's really tough to do," Jarnagin said.

Despite the financial challenges, Kenny and Kile began private lessons and joined the Longmont Youth Symphony in January after receiving the organization's Spreading the Harmony scholarships.

The scholarships provide free or reduced symphony tuition and private music lessons to low-income and underrepresented families, said Mary Bernstein, the symphony's outreach volunteer.

The symphony began giving out scholarships last year after receiving a two-year grant from an anonymous nonprofit, Bernstein said. The symphony would not release how much the grant was for but said that 15 students received scholarships last school year. Staff are expecting to distribute scholarships to a similar group this year, she said.

Auditions are currently being scheduled for potential recipients and will continue until the money is disbursed.

Symphony staff are in talks with the nonprofit about continuing the scholarships after this year, Bernstein said. But the symphony already has commitments from other area sponsors and donors to launch some scholarships next year, though the amount will depend on continued support and need, she said.

"Due to varying student needs it's hard to say exactly how many scholarships we can support," Bernstein said. "Some families request only tuition help, while others request help with both tuition and private lessons and our funds are distributed on a case-by-case basis to families who qualify for the program."

Jarnagin hopes the scholarships will continue to support her boys and other students in need of assistance.

"When something like this comes along you feel like you've won $1 million. I couldn't provide for them any other way," Jarnagin said. "The greatest gift you can give children is to encourage them in whatever abilities they have and we couldn't do that any other way."

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